Finding the Right Focus

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Each year I like to try at least one thing I have never done before. I find that it helps to keep my mind sharp. I'm exposed to an area of knowledge I haven't been exposed to before, and the new practice forces me out of my well worn, and habitual grooves. From a leadership point of view, it also reminds me what it feels like to be in unfamiliar territory. We often ask others to step up, but if we continually operate within known territory ourselves, we can forget how unsettling a new space can be to the people around us. 

This year, I've been doing some work with Bradley Hunter at The Shed Functional Fitness. Brad is a master of kettle bells, and a seriously good personal trainer. The end of last year for me was hectic, and I found myself adding kilos and stress. I needed a new physical routine.

I've found myself in possession of a couple of shiny new kettle bells. They don't yet have the knocks and scrapes of Brad's set. Aside from the physical benefits, the bells quickly schooled me in being present, paying attention, and finding the right focus. It's worth finding at least one thing in your life that demands being present in the here and now. 

Kettle bells work in part because they force you into dynamic and unstable movements which switch on core and stabilising muscles. If you are not mentally switched on as well, they bite! Safety is a big part of the training, and Brad had briefed me really clearly on how to safely enter and exit each move.

During my first workout at home, I dropped my focus for less than a second. As I rolled over to complete the sequence, I forgot to focus on the bell. It literally took off. A quick but awkward roll managed to get the thing back on the ground without it doing damage to me, or turning into a wrecking ball. All up it was a better outcome than what could have been.

After that initial wakeup call, I find myself instantly present as soon as I touch a kettle bell now. It's almost like meditation!

I like to find activities that demand that kind of presence. It's what I strive to bring to all aspects of my life and work. When I manage that level of presence, I deliver better results, listen more, learn more, and both my business and personal relationships flourish.

Now the heady days of New Years resolutions are well behind us, if you were going to try one new thing this year - something fun, motivating and beneficial - what would that something be? The menu is endless. Will you choose a one off experience like diving with sharks or visiting a new country? Perhaps a course to develop a new skill set? Maybe a dance class? Build a new habit? Join a book club? Or try something new in business like a partnership or new offering? 

What will you do this year that's new and different? What will that new space teach you?

If in doubt - make tea!

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My friend, mentor and colleague, Bob Cooper, designed a pocket sized survival kit. It’s built small so that people can easily carry it. Many kits are too large, and either get left at home, or left with the vehicle.

Either way, it results in a person being lost or stranded without their survival kit. As you can imagine space is at a premium in such a small kit, containing over 40 items. We often get asked why space is dedicated to a tea bag, and a coffee sachet.

The kit is supplied to Australian Special Forces Soldiers. One soldier, after a significant and difficult deployment wrote to Bob saying that the kit was great, and the most important item in it was the tea bag. It speaks volumes to the reason the tea bag is in there in the first place. In the stress and pressure of protracted “field work”, a cup of tea leant a measure of sanity, familiarity and a comfort zone to his life.
That’s why one of the Thrive and Adapt principles is:

If in doubt - make tea.

There are many situations and circumstances that call for a rapid decision. Whether you make them based on an intuitive understanding, or logic, sometimes there’s no escaping the need for a decision right now.

At other times there’s doubt, pressure, and critical information is missing. It may be that you are making a reactive decision based on some or all of those factors. At times like that, making tea is a great thing to do. The ritual and familiarity of your favourite brew, takes you to a comfort zone, and the 15 minutes to drink it may be sufficient to refocus for the pending decision. If not “make tea” becomes an analogy for “take time”. Sleep on it, seek more information, change tasks, spend time in reflection or retreat - what ever strategy best suits the situation.

Richard Branson sites delaying decisions as having saved him from many spectacular failures, had he made a rapid decision in the moment. He also says that he has missed some opportunities as a result, but never enough to outweigh the process of taking time.

When we run advanced survival courses, the act of making a fire and a cup of tea brings an air of comfort and relaxation to an otherwise challenging situation. There’s a reason that so many cultures have rituals and ceremonies around tea.

 What decisions/pressure points are you facing this week that would be better served by stepping back and taking time?

Go on - Make Tea!

Business Trends

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There's been some interesting discussion around this infographic. Some suggest that businesses that don't actually own what they trade in are a new phenomenon. I'm not so sure about that. Throughout human history there are examples of people who connect others with ideas, resources and networks, without necessarily owning the underlying resource themselves. I think it shows 3 things, only one of which is a new and growing trend: 1. People are hard wired to be connected to each other. Any business, community, network, village, tribe, association etc that makes connection easy and worthwhile for the people involved will get traction. That's been true for at least as long as we have been gathering around campfires sharing tools, resources, food, relationships, wisdom etc. It's unlikely to change any time soon. 2. Any business that can offer a quality, customer centric service which either solves a problems, make life easier, or creates choice will be a winner. All the businesses mentioned do most (if not all of these things). That's also nothing new, and is unlikely to change anytime soon. 3. Businesses that offer 1 and 2 and can do that in a genuinely nimble and truly global way stand to make massive connections, do massive volumes of business, and therefore stand to make huge profits. That in itself is not new, there are ancient examples of global business as well. What has changed is the speed at which it can be accomplished, the amount of people that can be reached. Further the tools to achieve these kinds of results are getting more accessible, more powerful, easier to use and cheaper to access. If you had to make your business work in an environment where you couldn't physically meet your customer, they were on the other side of the world, and you had to be immediately responsive - how would you do it and what could you achieve? I expect we'll be seeing a lot more examples of these kinds of businesses arriving with greater speed and creating even more stellar results

Popular vs Quality

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Seths Blog: The problem with hit radio



Seth Godin makes a great point in a recent blog post about popular content in books and web being "served up" to people and consumed, precisely because it is popular. The same can happen in the decision making processes we often employ in business. If we listen only to the voices we "like", we end up with skewed perspective. There's a world of value in finding a contrary view and seeking to understand it.

I was asked today how I keep healthly...

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Health is critical to everything. I maintain fitness by using "fast exercise" strategies. Walk 5km most days with every second day having 30 sec sprints alternate with 60 sec walking recovery. I do between 4 and 10 repeats. Every other day my walk includes a muscle focus. 30 seconds each of push ups, step ups, squats, 3 types of plank, crunches, tricep dips and bridges. The thing I like about this routine is that when I am travelling, I can cut these down to 4 - 10 minutes of highly effective daily exercise involving no equipment and very little time. For mental/emotional/spiritual health I spend a few minutes every day in mindfulness. Breathing deeply and consciously. Sometimes I add contemplation of my intention for the day. I try to do this just before I speak or deliver as well, just to ensure I am fully present in the moment. I also book out 2 x 3 day chunks in my diary as a personal retreat each year. They are timed for times of the year I am more likely to be feeling pressured and overwhelmed. Relationship wise, my wife and I book time we will spend together at the beginning of the year also. Weekends away, time at home doing nothing - these are not negotiable in the calendar. the full discussion is here

A great article about HOW CEO MARK PARKER RUNS NIKE TO KEEP PACE WITH RAPID CHANGE

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HOW CEO MARK PARKER RUNS NIKE TO KEEP PACE WITH RAPID CHANGE

Some great insights about Thriving and Adapting in a world characterised by rapid change. 
I often say that the problem with organisations is that they like to be organised. The trap is that it creates myopic thinking and a massive blind spot about "the way things are done around here".

Mark Parker has some great insights into how to stay fluid.

Hugh Herr: The new bionics that let us run, climb and dance

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This is a great example of the kinds of changes that are currently possible and will become possible.



It's an amazing collection of stories, and has some interesting insights into disability and limitation.

Some of these kinds of technologies will completely redefine how we see ourselves physically. It will change work roles, social roles, recreation and many other aspects of life. Potentially there will be varying levels of access subject to where we live and our access to wealth and resources.



In turn that will create an imperative for us individually and collectively to consider how we define ourselves and the roles we inhabit. Is there a line where augmentation of our physical selves should stop? Where would it be and why?



It is an exciting time to be alive!

Finding Balance in the 24/7 always on world

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I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Gihan Perera. He's well known for his expertise in helping thought leaders leverage their social media presence. In fact, Forbes Magazine listed him as the 5th most influential person, world wide in social media publishing.

In the full interview (70 min), we discussed many issues for business leaders including loyalty, making tech decisions, building connections and relationships. One of the highlights of the interview was our discussion about finding balance in the always on world.

He gives some great tips about managing the balance in "Your Life, Your Rules".

Multiplied by Apathy

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Apathy: a lack of passion, interest and concern. 

We are built to Thrive and Adapt. Despite the fact that change is challenging, we are good at it. Our human desire to continuously improve our condition, leads us to think, solve problems and create. Creating more of something, making it better, or easier have been drivers of change throughout human history. 
When we can see the vision for change and we have a sense of choice and control over it, it motivates and excites us. High quality change is actually one of the ultimate engagement strategies.
People need to feel a sense of progress with change. If it is taking too long, is unclear or is not generating something more, better or easier - then change is just wearing. Change fatigue sets in. Resistance too. Apathy soon follows.
Apathy replaces resistance. People eventually don’t care enough to resist. Fatigue is multiplied by Apathy.
The more Apathy there is, the harder it will be to make future changes. You will have to create enough momentum to overcome the inertia of built up an entrenched Apathy.
Here’s some questions that will help create engagement about change.
Why are we changing this? Get really clear about the why. Does it sound interesting and compelling. If not it’s unlikely that it will get anywhere. Would it get you out of bed in the morning? Can you explain it to others in a way that makes sense to them?
Will it create more, make life easier somehow, or be better than what we have now? 
What are some quick “wins” that will give you and your people a sense of progress and control over the change?
When people are apathetic, they often get the blame. Blame is easy and takes the pressure and focus off the person doing the blaming. What if we asked ourselves,

“How can I make this situation more meaningful, engaging and important to and for the people involved?”

Here’s to Change and the wonders we create! 

Expectations Part II

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Expectations alter Reality

In Expectations Part I we explored how expectations kill people.

But expectations have another, perhaps more powerful function.They bend reality to meet us.

Research and anecdotal evidence shows that many people in survival situations stay alive against incredible odds, sometimes even defying medical science. It would be reasonable to think that they are people who are physically tough, or better trained for the situation that they face. The reality is far more interesting – the one thing they have in common is that they expect to survive.

Here’s an example from “Unbroken”, Laura Hillenbrand’s recent biography of Louie Zamparini. quote describes Louie's experience lost at sea on a life raft for 47days with 2 crew mates in 1943, after being shot down over the Pacific.

“Though all three men faced the same hardship, their differing perceptions of it appeared to be shaping their fates. Louie and Phil's hope displaced their fear and inspired them to work toward their survival, and each success renewed their physical and emotional vigour. Mac's resignation seemed to paralyse him and the less he participated in their efforts to survive, the more he slipped. Though he did the least, as the days passed, it was he who faded the most. Louie and Phil's optimism, and Mac's hopelessness, were becoming self-fulfilling.”

Mac passed away, while the other two survived their ordeal.

What does this link between expectation and survival mean to us in the modern world? Check out the diagram below…




Zamparini intended to survivive. He expected events to unfold to support his intention. He gave his attention to the evidence that suggested he was right, and to the actions that supported his intention.

You and I have intentions and expectations everyday, in every area of our lives, whether we are aware of them or not. They giude and focus our attention. For the greatest liklihood of success, all three factors need to be concious and work in harmony with each other.

Asking yourself these questions will assist in bringing them into your concious mind:

What is my intention? (check yourself for clarity and alignment)
What are my expectations in this situation?

Now give your attention to the actions and mindsets that serve you best in this moment, and watch as reality begins to take shape around you according to your expectations.

Why this Blog

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Despite the challenges of change, we have all met people who seem to Thrive and Adapt, regardless of what is happening around them. They are able to tap into vast resources of energy, they spread calm in the face of uncertainty, and they are joyful and enthusiastic and create opportunities for themselves and those around them. We see them in business and personal life, surmounting seeming insurmountable challenges and positively radiating through the experience. Some of that is a result of personal disposition, however a lot of it comes down to skills that can be learned and practiced.

 I'm passionate about creating people, leaders, organisations and communities that thrive and adapt. 

 Thrive and Adapt shares my own thinking as well as considered and quality information from other sources. I'm glad you can join me on that journey.